Sporting CP Update: 2/9

We’ll start with the Sporting B team, who faced on Olhanense on Saturday. The B team found themselves down at halftime 1-0. But they were able to turn it around in the 2nd half. Nineteen-year-old Ryan Gauld (nicknamed “the Scottish Messi”) tied it with his third goal this season in the 2nd division. Later on, Diego Rubio converted a penalty shot for the lead and eventual final score, 2-1.

Rubio scored his third goal in three games since coming back from his loan to Norway’s Sandnes Ulf. Wallyson was named player of the game. his win moves the B team up to 11th in the standings with a 11-9-6 record and 39 points.

On Sunday Sporting CP and league leaders Benfica faced off in the Lisbon derby. SCP had a great chance to cut Benfica’s lead over Sporting to 4 points and lead over FC Porto to 3 points. For about 99% of the game, Sporting controlled the game and most of the attacking. The problem for Sporting was their final pass/crosses into the penalty area only finding the hands of Benfica’s keeper Artur. In the 87th minute SCP Jefferson broke the deadlock and appeared to win the game for SCP. But in the dying seconds of stoppage time, Benfica’s Jardel drilled the tying goal after a scramble in front of Sporting’s net, breaking the hearts of the home fans, and maybe some FC Porto fans too. After this tie, Benfica still maintains a seven point lead over third-place Sporting and four points over second-place FC Porto.

When Jefferson scored in the 87th minute, SCP had their final two subs waiting to come in, a winger and a forward. I still can’t believe that Sporting manager Marco Silva didn’t change one of them for a defender after the goal. Even though Benfica didn’t record a shot on target all game until the tying goal, you still have to think that Benfica would in the final minutes and stoppage time (four minutes) throw everyone to attack. I just think that was a bad decision that may of cost Sporting the win. Better to protect the margin with five defenders instead of four even when dropping everyone back.

2 Comments

Hey Peter, it certainly doesn’t appear to be a fruitful one at the moment. I know these kinds of international partnerships have a lot of moving parts, but right now, I don’t see how either club has received tangible benefits as a result of it.

About Brian O'Connell

Brian O'Connell (@BrianOConnell21) serves as editor and staff writer at New England Soccer Today. He's also the Revolution beat writer for ESPNFC, and is Officer at Large for the North American Soccer Reporters. He's contributed to The Associated Press, The Canadian Press, and has been featured on MLSSoccer.com & RevsNet.com. E-mail: BOConnell21@aol.com